Snap switch



C. E HANNY SNAP SWITCH Dec 24, 1929.

Filed July 15, 1925 INVENTOR Petented Dec. 24, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

CHARLES E. HANNY, OF UNIONVILLE, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNORTO THE TBUMBUIJ ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, E PLAINVILLE, CONNECTICUT, A CORPO- BATION OI CONNECTICUT SNAP SWITCH Application filed July 15, 1925. Serial No. 48,724.

My invention relates particularly to what are sometimes called panel board switches.

The main object is to provide a simple and reliable switch which will carry a maximum load for a given size or in other words a switch having a greatly increased safety factor under ordinary operating loads.

Another object is to provide a switch of this character which is light and simple in construction and yet strong and reliable,

I accomplish these objects by a special rugged construction in which the circuit is broken at a multiplicity-of points; in the preferred instance, four points. Although the switch is what is commonly termed a single pole or single circuit switch, it is provided with two oscillating blades or switch members and four stationary contacts. Two of these contacts are adapted to be connected to terminals or bus bar members of a panel board and the other contacts are connected together by a diagonally disposed member.

In this construction the blades and contacts are so arranged that a single circuit may be directed in a predetermined sequence through both of the blades and through all of the contacts thus making it possible to open or close thecircuit simultaneously at four widely separated points. All of these parts are constructed and supported so as to be eifectively insulated and yet mechanicall rugged.

Fig. 1 is a side view of a-switch embodying the improvements of niy invention in the preferred form.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the same.

In both Figures 1 and 2 the parts are broken away to show other parts which would otherwise be concealed.

Fig. 3 is a bottom view showing the bus bar terminals and partly broken away to show the diagonal connector.

Fig.4 is a pers ective view showing the various elements 0 the base and immediately associated parts.

The plate 6 inay be formed of any suitable metal and constitutes the main base for carrying the other parts.

The (56113210138 7, 8, 9 and are arranged in )airs at opposite ends of the base. Contacts 7 and 9 are arranged on one side and insulated from the base plate 6 by a stri of material such as insulating fibre 11. T e contacts 8 and 10 are supported at the other side and intact with the plate 14. The other terminal plate 16 is connected electrically to the foot of the contact 10 bymeans of a rivet 17. A. fragment of the corresponding bus bar 18 is also shown in Figure 3.

Contacts 8 and 9 are connected by the diagonal' strap 19 and the rivets 20'and 21, respectively. Insulatin plates 22 and 23 are interposed respective y between the base plate 6 and the connector 19 and between the connector 19 and the terminal plates 14 and 16. The rivets secure the various parts of the base together so as to form a rugged support, although the various parts themselves are comparatively thin and light in Weight.

A bracket 24 is secured to the base plate 6, for instance by riveting between the insulating strips 11 and 12. This bracket serves as a support for the switch frame 25. The

switch mechanism may be of any suitable otally supported by the frame 25 and carries two switch blades or switch members 27 and 28 on opposite sides in position to engage the contacts 7 and 9, and 8 and 10, res ctively. The particular switch shown has a andle or toggle lever member 29 pivoted in the frame 25and connected tothe oke 26 b means of a ti rowing spring 30 an rod 31. e switch blades 27 and 28 are suitably insulated from the yoke, for instance, by means of suitable insulating bushings such as 32.

In the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the switch is in the open circuitor off position. When the handle .09 is thrown over to the right, as viewed in Fig. 1, the switch is snapped so that the switch'blades'.;27 and 28 engage respectively the contacts 7 and 9, and 8 and 10. In this position the circuit can be traced from the bus bar 15, terminal plate 14,

rivet 13, contact 7, switch blade 27, contact 9,

switch member 28, contact 10, rivet 17, terminal plate16, to bus bar 18. When the switch handle is thrown to the left the circuit is broken at four points, as the ends of the switch blades 27 and 28 leave the contacts 7 and 9, and 8 and 10, respectively. This making and breaking of the circuit at four polnts greatly increases the safety factor on ordinary loads or greatly increases the load which may be carried by the same switch at the usual safety factors as has been determined by tests and commercial use.

I claim:

1. A single pole panel board switch comprising a base formed of a metallic plate and plates of insulating material, four stationary contacts secured to said base and arranged in pairs in spaced apart relation projecting away from the front of said base, an electrical conductor bar enclosed between insulating plates within said base and electrically connecting two of the diagonally disposed contacts, two bus bar connector plates at the back of said base electrically connected respectively to the other two contacts and having portions extending across the center line of the base for connection to panel board bus bars, and two movable switch blades mounted on said base and co-operating with the pairs of stationary contacts whereby a single electrical path is provided from one contact through one blade to the opposite contact and thence through the electrical conductor to the diagonally opposite contact, thence through the other blade to the remaining contact, and whereby the circuit may be broken simultaneously at four points by the movement of said blades. said metallic base plate, insulating plates and connector bar reinforcing and supporting each other.

2. A single pole panel board switch having a base including rectangular insulating plates, a conducting link mounted between two of said plates and extending from one corner of said base diagonally to the opposite corner, a stationary switch contact secured to each corner of said base at the front thereof, a bus bar connector secured to each end of said base at the rear thereof, two of said contacts being connected to said link and each of the other two contacts being connected, respectively, to one of said bus bar connectors and two movable switch blades co-operating with said contacts to form a single electrical path when the switch is closed, said path extending from one contact through one blade to said link, thence through said link to the other, contact connected therewith and through the other switch blade to the remaining contact, the circuit being broken at 4 points when the switch is open, said insulating plates and connecting link supporting and reinforcing each other.

. 3. A snap switchincluding a base plate, an insulating plate abOVe said base plate, two

pairs of contacts mounted-on said insulating plate, a diagonally disposed connector bar, an insulating plate between said base plate and said connector bar, two circuit terminal plates, an insulating plate between said connector bar and said terminal plates, fastening means passing through two of the said contacts, through said base plate and through all of the said insulating plates and connecting the said contacts to the opposite ends of said diagonal connector bar, fastening means passing through each of the other contacts, through said base plate and through all of the said insulating plates and connecting the said contacts with the respective terminal plates, a switch frame secured to said base plate and movable switch blades supported thereby for engaging said-contacts.

= 4. A snap switch comprising a base plate, a bracket secured thereto, insulating strips above said base plate on opposite sides of said bracket, a diagonally disposed connector, an insulating plate arranged between said connector and said base plate, two circuit terminal plates, an insulating plate arranged between said terminal plates and said connector, four contacts, rivets passing thru two of said contacts, thru said strips, thru said base plate, thru one insulating plate and connecting said contacts to the opposite ends of said diagonal connector, two other rivets passing thru the other contacts, thru said strips, said base plate and both of said insulating plates, and connecting said contacts to said terminal plates; a switch frame secured to said bracket and movable switch blades supported thereby and adapted to coact with said contacts.

CHAS. E, HANNY. 

